Nawaz, army chief should be on the same page: Achakzai

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief urges leaders to join hands and thwart any attempt to derail democracy

ISLAMABAD: Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai said on Thursday that democracy in Pakistan is under threat, while urging leaders to join hands and thwart any attempt to derail it.

Addressing a National Assembly session in a rather perturbed tone, Achakzai asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah and former president Asif Ali Zardari to move democracy forward.

He also advised Pakistan Tehreek-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan to pay attention to governance instead of holding public rallies.

Achakzai referred to Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader Dr Tahirul Qadri's latest demand asking the army to take control of the airport on the day of his return. “Who are you to make such a demand?” he asked of Qadri.

“Where is the ISPR (Inter Services Public Relations) and since when has Qadri become the army’s spokesperson?” he questioned.

Achakzai added that had he been in the prime minister's position, he would have ordered that Qadri be arrested and sent back to Canada. Nawaz was present in the house and joined fellow MPs in appreciating Achakzai by desk-thumping.

Achakzai suggested that the government convene a joint session of Parliament.

While he did not point fingers at any forces that wished to derail the system, Achakzai stated: “I had always been at war with the establishment and been asking them not to interfere in democratic affairs.”

Referring to his father's and his own struggle for democracy, he said, “No one has sacrificed for democracy as much as I have. I remained a wanted person, dead or alive, throughout the tenure of General Ziaul Haq."

“I urge Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to be on the same page otherwise the existence of Pakistan is in danger,” Achakzai stated.

He advised that they announce that "Afghanistan is a sovereign state and they can run their country according to their wishes.”

“Terrorism would end if you don’t keep arms against them (Afghanistan) and they against you. Tell me who do you want to make this commitment in writing Hamid Karzai, Abdullah, I will bring them,” he added.

While commenting on the problems between provinces, he said, “The solution to these issues is in giving right to governance to Sindhis, Balochs, Pushtuns and Punjabis.”

"Long live democracy and long live the Constitution of Pakistan," he said while concluding his speech.